The Vancouver Canucks are prepping for the beginning of Thatcher Demko’s National Hockey League career, making a trade Wednesday to begin clearing a path for highly touted netminder.

The Canucks have sent Anders Nilsson and journeyman forward Darren Archibald to Ottawa in exchange for goalie Mike McKenna, winger Tom Pyatt and a 2019 sixth-round draft pick.

Demko has been playing for the past two-and-a-half seasons with the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning said that he felt Demko was ready to move up to prime time and so it was time to find a new home for Nilsson, who was the team’s backup goalie for the past season and a half.

“One of the things that we wanted to do was make room for Thatcher and get him going,” Benning said on a conference call.

“We’ve been patient with him, with his development,” he added. “He’s playing really well down there (in Utica) … we just felt that the foundation for his game is set, now is time for him to move up.”

The Vancouver Canucks acquired goaltender Mike McKenna from the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. McKenna is shown here making a save against the Montreal Canadiens on December 15, 2018.Graham Hughes /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

“I think it gives us flexibility,” he said of adding McKenna. “For the next couple days, Mike will backup (Markstrom).”

Benning also indicated this was a trade they’d been looking at for a while.

Nilsson didn’t learn of the trade until shortly before it was announced.

“It’s been a crazy day. That’s for sure,” Nilsson told Ottawa reporters before the game. “I had lunch (with the Canucks) then I got a phone call that I was traded here to Ottawa. It wasn’t much of a travel (day). It’s been a different day and I’m going to remember when I get older.”

He said he was excited about the opportunity to get more starts in Ottawa than he’d been getting in Vancouver.

“I’m feeling way better this season than I did last season,” he said. “It’s been a little frustrating not getting the results. I’ve been feeling that I’ve been taking some big steps over this season but I haven’t been getting the results that turn into wins or points.

“I’m hoping that I can continue the path and turn the games into wins. I feel like I can play at a high level when I find my zone and my rhythm. I’m excited to play a game soon.”

McKenna, 35, has posted a record of 1-4-1 and a 3.96 goals-against average for the Ottawa Senators this season. He was called up from the Senators’ American Hockey League affiliate in Belleville, Ont., after Mike Condon was sent down following a disastrous start against the Arizona Coyotes on Oct. 31.

The St. Louis, MO., native has played 34 NHL games over the course of six seasons with the Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes and Dallas Stars, posting a record of 7-16-3.

35 Year old Goaltender Mike McKenna joins his 7th NHL team…and will wear his 20th different pro hockey sweater in his next game.

The Canucks play the Senators in Ottawa on Wednesday, and then are in Montreal on Thursday. Their current six-game road trip, which had stops in Calgary, Edmonton and New Jersey, wraps up Saturday in Toronto.

To make room for Demko, the Canucks will have to waive McKenna, though given his long career, it seems doubtful another team would claim him.

The Comets are a bit thin in goal now, as Demko’s backup, veteran Richard Bachman, injured his Achilles last month. His season is over, Benning confirmed.

The 28-year-old Nilsson, who backed Sweden to gold at the World Hockey Championship last spring, had a 3-8-1 record, 3.09 GAA and 0.895 save percentage in 12 games with Canucks this season.

He’s not likely to start against his old team on Wednesday night.

Pyatt, 31, has tallied two assists and two penalty minutes in 37 games this season for the Senators. The winger is currently mired in a 50-game goalless streak.

He was waived by the Senators on Tuesday and will be assigned to Utica.

Archibald, 28, has split the past two years between the Canucks and the AHL’s Utica Comets. The rugged forward had a goal and an assist in nine NHL games this season.

This Week's Flyers

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.